Boring type continuous mining machine



July 24, 1962 v. w. LILLY BORING TYPE CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 6, 1958 thf zi a WW M ATTORNEYS July 24, 1962 v. w. LILLY BORING TYPE CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 6, 1958 ATTORNEY-5 United States Patent @fifice 3,045,991 Patented July 24, 1962 3,045,991 BORING TYPE CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE Virley W. Lilly, Box 93, Chapmanville, W. Va. Filed May 6, 1938, Ser. No. 733,358 2 Claims. (Cl. 2629) This invention relates to mining machines, and particularly to mining machines which are designed to cut into the coal, break it down and convey it to the rear of the machine while the machine is advancing, so as to provide a continuous mining operation.

In conventional, so-called continuous mining machines the cutters are carried on a carriage which can be moved in the mine by means of cable drums mounted on the carriage, cables and jacks. These machines, for the most part, have assumed two forms, either having one or more cutters which are mounted on arms which oscillate through a limited arc of movement as they cut into the mine face, or having cutters which are movable in a fixed orbit and cut into the face as the carriage is moved forward. With each type of machine a cut of predetermined depth can be made, and the carriage then had to be backed up, moved sideways, and then moved into the face again to make another cut adjacent the first. This procedure had to be repeated across the full width of the tunnel. The carriage could be placed at any desired angle to the face of the vein, but then had to be moved straight forward while making a cut.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a mining machine which can be moved into the mine face to make a cut of predetermined depth, and have its boring head turned and the machine moved laterally to continue the cut across the full face. This will enable a cut being made in a continuous operation which extends the full width of the mine face.

Another object is the provision of such a machine having a boring head mounted for bodily rotational movement in either direction in a horizontal plane to change the angle of the head relative to the supporting carriage.

A further object is to provide such a machine having means for adjusting the vertical spin which the cut will embrace.

It is an object to provide a mining machine which will leave the finished walls and pillars in the mine with a rounded shape which greatly adds to their strength and rigidity.

Other objjects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a practical embodiment thereof, when taken in conjunction with the drawings which accompany, and form part of, this specification.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a mining machine embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the machine shown in FIGURE 1, parts being broken away to show the path of movement of mined coal through the machine;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the forward portion of the machine;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse section through the machine, taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3, illustrating the means for adjusting the upper shearing head assembly;

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal section take on the line 55 of FIGURE 3, showing part of the drive mechanism for the upper shearing head assembly;

FIGURE 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 3, showing the means for changing the angle of the boring head relative to the carriage; and

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic view of the mine face after boring by the head, and showing the action of a breaker member.

In general, the mining machine of the present invention consists of a carriage which can be moved in desired directions and carries a boring head, which is pivotally mounted on the carriage for adjusting movement in a horizontal plane and capable of continuous cutting during rotational adjustment of the head relative to the carriage. The machine has top and bottom shearing assemblies to define the vertical span of the cut, and the top shearing assembly is adjustable to permit varying the ceiling level. The bottom shearer serves also as a gatherer and operates in conjunction with conveyors to move out material from the mine face and move it to the rear of the machine for removal from the mine.

While the present machine may be usable for different types of mining, it is principally designed for coal mining and will be described in that connection.

Referring to the drawings in detail, there is shown a continuous mining machine which incorporates the principles of the present invention, and includes a carriage 1 which supports a forwardly projecting cutter head 2 comprising a boring head 3, top shearing assembly 4 and bottom shearing and gathering assembly 5.

The carriage may be of any desired form and contains a power source 6 for operating the various mechanisms of the machine. The carriage is provided with the usual jacks 7 at its four corners, and the usual cable drums 8 and pulleys 9. The only point of importance here is the arrangement of the drums and pulleys so that the cable lines will be approximately on the plane of the horizontal center line of the boring head so that when the cables are properly fastened to the drums and jacked in the well known manner, the machine will be practically suspended and put little weight upon the mine floor. This greatly increases the ease with which the machine may be moved in the mine.

The cutter head 2 projects forwardly of the carriage and is supported upon a central beam 10 extending from the carriage. A substantially U-shaped frame 11 is mounted upon the beam and has its legs projecting forwardly to provide support surfaces for various pumps, operating shafts, etc. as will be described. Cover plates 12 bridge the legs of the frame 11 and complete a housmg.

The boring head 3 is carried at the front of a gear case 13 which is pivotally mounted in the U-shaped frame 11 for swinging movement in a horizontal plane. The gear case has an upwardly extending boss 14 which is journalled in the top leg of the U-frame, and a downwardly extending boss 15 which is journalled in the lower leg of the U-frame. These bosses form the trunnions on which the gear case pivots. A drive shaft 16 extends vertically through the gear case and is coaxial with the bosses 14 and 15. The shaft projects beyond each of the bosses, and carries a sprocket 17 at its lower end and a spur gear 18 at its upper end. Sprocket 17 carries a chain 19 which also passes around a sprocket 20 on a shaft 21 projecting from the power source 6. Thus, shaft 16 may be driven whenever the power source is active, and will not be affected by horizontal swinging movement of the boring head and gear case. The cutters of the boring head are carried on a shaft 22 which is mounted at right angles to the shaft 16 and journalled for rotation in a hub 23, projecting forwardly from the gear casing 13. Shaft 22 carries .a bevel gear 24 meshing with a bevel gear 25 on the shaft 16 so that a constant drive is provided for the boring head shaft when the drive shaft 16 is in motion.

The spur gear 18 lies within a housing 26 on top of the gear case 13 and the top leg of the U-frame 11. Gear 18 is in mesh with an idler gear 27 mounted on a stub shaft 28 fixed to the U-frame 11, gear 27 is in mesh with a second idler 29 mounted on shaft 30, and gear 29 is in mesh with a gear 31 splined onto shaft 32 which carries the top shearing cutters 4. All of these gears are enclosed within the housing 26. By this arrangement, the top cutters are also operated whenever the drive shaft 16 is in motion.

It will be evident from the above that whenever power is applied to shaft 21 chain 19, shaft 16, boring head 3 and top cutters 4 will all be put into operation. As chain 19 forms the bottom cutter, as will be described, all cutting elements will operate simultaneously.

The fact that the mounting hubs, or bosses, 14 and 15 of the gear case 13 and the shaft 16 are concentrically mounted, and shaft 16 forms the principal drive element from which the various cutters are driven, the gear case is free to rotate within its journals and about shaft 16 without interrupting, or interfering with, the drive to the various cutting elements. In order to rotate the gear case, a gear segment 33 of at least 180 extent is fixed to the rear of the gear case to mesh with an operating gear 34, fixed to shaft 35 mounted in journals 36 carried by a bridge plate 3'7 that spans the space between the legs of the U-frame 11. Plate 37 has an opening 38 through which the gear segment 33 projects. Shaft 35 is rotated by means of a chain 39 which passes around a sprocket 40 at the bottom of shaft 35 and a sprocket 41 on shaft 42 of hydraulic motor 43. Fluid for operating motor 43 may be supplied from a pump 44 mounted on, and powered by, the power source 6, through lines 45 and 46. Pump 44 may be connected with a fluid tank 47 by lines 48 and 49. When fluid motor 43 is operated, the gear 34 will be rotated, causing the gear case 13 to rotate about its hubs, carrying the boring head with it to change the angle of the boring head relative to the carriage. Reverse flow of the fluid through the lines 45 and 46 will reverse the motor and reverse the direction of swinging movement of the gear case and boring head.

The boring head consists of a central rotary cutter 50 and a cross-arm 51 mounted on shaft 22 and having the cutters 52 and 53 mounted at spaced points thereon. The cutters 52 are at equal distances from the center of the cross arm, and the shaft 22, and the cutters 53 are equally spaced from the center of rotation of the head. Due to this arrangement, the boring head will drill a center tap hole, and the cutters 52 and 53 will cut annular channels into the coal face concentric to the tap hole. This is shown diagrammatically in FIGURE 7, where the tap hole is shown at 54, and the annular channels at 55 and 56. Cutting in this manner leaves two concentric cylinders 57 and 58 of unbroken coal after the cut is made. The side cutters 53 have a plurality of cutter bits 53 arranged in a row along their outer side faces parallel to the axis of the boring head.

In order to remove the uncut cylinders of coal, the cross-arm 51 is offset near its central hub to provide a pair of inclined cam faces 59. These faces converge toward the center of rotation of the unit and will enter the central tap hole and exert outward pressure against the inner surface of the inner cylinder 57 of coal. The outward pressure will be increased as the boring head advances into the coal face and when sufficient pressure has been exerted the coal will break up into relatively large lumps. The breaking action is enhanced by the fact that the cam faces 59 are rotating as the cross arm rotates and will exert pressure progressively around the coal cylinder.

In order to break up the outer cylinder 58, an eccentric type crowder unit 60 is provided. This unit comprises an arm 61 fixed to the hub of the cross arm 51 and having an oifset 62, similar to those provided on the cross arm, which will coact with the faces 59 to break up the inner coal cylinder. The outer end of the arm carries a serrated cone 63 rotatably mounted on a pin 64 fixed to the arm. The arm 61 will rotate with the cross-arm and bring the conical surface of the cone 63 into contact with the inner surface of the outer coal cylinder 58. This will cause the d. cone to be rotated about its pivot pin 64. The cone is provided with an eccentric crowder 65 which will strike hammer blows against the coal cylinder as the cone is rotated. Here again, the coal cylinder will be caused to break into rather large size lumps.

In order to prevent the gear case 13, and other parts of the machinery, from being damaged, a barrier plate 66 is provided at the front of the gear case just in back of the boring head assembly. The barrier plate will be sufliciently large to protect the front end of the machine but, at the same time, will enter into the opening made by the boring head.

The upper shearing assembly consists of cross-arm 66 having a plurality of drill bits 67 mounted therealong. The cross arm 66 is fixedly mounted upon shaft 32 for rotation with that shaft. At the outer ends of the cross arm 66, kerf cutters 68 are provided. These may be attached to the ends of the cross arm in any suitable manner, preferably by means which will allow them to be rotated to either position above the cross arm or below the cross arm. This will provide some means of adjustment, and regulate the position at which the top kerf will be cut.

The entire shearing assembly is vertically movable for major adjustment for ceilings of different height. As mentioned above, shaft 32 is splined to the gear 31 and is free to move through the gear and yet maintain rotative connection to the gear. The splines 69 extend part-way down the shaft, and the lower end of the shaft is smooth and fits within a socket 70 in the supporting tongue 10. The shaft is connected by means of a cross head 71 to nuts 72 threaded onto shafts 73. These shafts extend vertically on either side of the shaft 32 and are journaled in the arms of the U-frame 11. It will be obvious that rotation of the shafts 73 will cause the nuts 72 to move longitudinally for the shafts and thus raise or lower the shaft 32 and the upper shearing assembly 4. Shafts 73 are caused to rotate by means of a chain 74, which passes around sprockets 75 on the shaft 73 and a sprocket 76 mounted on shaft 77 extending from a fluid motor 78. The motor 78 is powered by fluid supplied through the lines 79 from the fluid pump 44. It will be obvious that when the hydraulic motor 78 is operated, the chain 74 will cause shafts 73 to rotate, raising or lowering the cross head 71 and the shaft 32. This will permit the operator to control the point at which the top, or roof, kerf is made so as to control the over-all height of the cut made into the coal face.

The bottom kerf is made by means of bits 80 fixed to the chain 19. Chain 19 is also provided with gathering plates 81 staggered with respect to the bits and adapted to sweep the broken down coal from in front of the machine and carry it rearwardly along the chain track. Chain 19 passes through a chamber 82 in the carriage, which chamber forms a passageway through the carriage to permit the gathering plates to draw the coal backward through the machine over the floor 83 to the rear. The coal will be caused to move up the incline 84 at the back end of the machine where it will be lifted by the conveyor 8'5 and carried to a point where it can be dumped into a mine car. Conveyor 85 is driven through a chain 86 by a motor 87. Thus, as the machine cuts into the coal face the coal will be carried rearwardly and dumped into mine cars for transportation from the mine. Thus, not only the cutting action, but the clearing action as well, will be continuous.

In operating the machine, the machine is brought into substantial contact with the face of the coal to be cut. The cables will be fixed about the pulleys 9 and to the drums 8 and properly secured to conventional jacking devices for movement in a desired direction. Assuming, for the moment, that the cut is to be made straight into the coal face, the machine will be adjusted for straight forward operation. Due to the mounting of the pulleys and cable drums substantially at the center line of the boring head as previously described, the greater portion of the weight will be lifted and the machine may be removed without much force. The entire boring head assembly will be arranged in alignment with the machine as shown in FIGURE 1. The power source 6 will be energized which will cause chain 19, boring head 3, and the upper shearing assembly 4 to begin their respective rotative movements. As the machine moves forward, the cutters of the boring head will cut into the face forming the center tap hole and the concentric channels. The wedging cams and the eccentric crowder will come into operation to break the remaining cylinders of coal so that the lumps will drop down. The coal will be picked up as it falls and carried rearwardly by the chain 19 as just described. When a cut has been made to at least the center line of the shaft 16, hydraulic motor 43 will be energized to cause the boring head to rotate about its tnmnions to assume a position substantially at right angles to the center line of the carriage. The cutting operation Will be continued as this rotative movement is made so that the boring head will in elfect cut its way around to its new position. The cables and jacks will then be arranged so that the machine will be drawn laterally of the mine tunnel and the boring head will cut across the face of the coal. Thus a complete cut can be made from one side of the tunnel to the other as a continuous operation.

All of the cutting elements are arranged for operation in either direction, and the direction in which the elements are moved will depend upon the direction of movement of the carriage. The cutting direction can be changed at will in accordance with the desired direction of movement of the machine. While a right angular turning of the boring head has been described, it will be understood that the machine may be made to approach the coal face at any angle and, after a suficiently deep penetration has been made, the boring head can be rotated the required amount to bring it parallel to the coal face and the cut can be continued across the face. Whenever it is desired to change the height of the cut, the fluid motor 78 will be energized, causing the shafts 73 to rotate the lift or lower the shaft 32 and the shearing assembly carried thereby.

With a machine of this type it is possible to maintain a continuous operation with but two operators who can actually handle the controls of the unit itself, set the cable jacks in well known manner in their proper positions to obtain travel in any required direction, control the position of the cars immediately back of the machine and at least assist in the procedure of shoring the mine roof. Thus, labor costs will be reduced. The particular manner of cutting the coal and breaking it into lumps will result in maximum lump production with a minimum of shaving or rubbing action on the coal.

While in the above one practical embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it will be understood that the precise details of structure shown and described are merely by way of illustration and the invention may take other forms within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

i. A continuous mining machine comprising, a carriage, a boring head having cutters thereon mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis, means to rotate the cutters, the boring head pivotally mounted on the carriage for movement in a horizontal plane, means to move the boring head about its pivotal mounting to adjust the angle of the boring head relative to the carriage, a top shearing cutter mounted upon a vertical shaft, a vertical drive shaft concentric to the pivotal mounting head of the boring head, means drivingly interconnecting the drive shaft and boring head cutters to rotate the boring head cutters, a bottom kerf cutter mounted upon the drive shaft below the boring head, means to drive the bottom kerf cutter, and means drivingly interconnecting the drive shaft and the top shearing cutter shaft.

2. In a continuous mining machine as claimed in claim 1, means to adjust the top shearing cutter vertical shaft in an axial direction to change the cutting position of the top shearing cutter relative to the boring head.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,674,870 Morgan June 26, 1928' 2,695,790 Lindgren et al Nov. 30, 1954 2,734,731 Cartlidge et al. Feb. 14, 1956 2,745,648 Robbins May 15, 1956 2,783,038 Tracy Feb. 26, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 324,561 Germany Aug. 20, 1920 165,890 Great Britain June 3, 1921 

